Packing and display container



0a. 12, 1943. R, G Y R 2,331,551

PACKING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1941ATTORNEY I INVENTORGW Oct. 12, 1943. R, ER 2,331,551

PACKING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed June 4, 1941 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 41 W64% 35 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented on 12, 1943 PACKING AND DISPLAYCONTAINER Reynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper.Products Company, St. Paul, .Minn a corporation of Minnesota ApplicationJune 4, 1941, Serial No. 396,596

8 Claims. (01. 206-44) My invention relates to an improvement in packingand display container, wherein it is desired to provide a packing orshipping container which may also serve as a display container.

It is common practice to place articles of manufacture in an outershipping container for transportation purposes, to protect the articles,and to keep them together as a. unit. In the .sets are preferablyconnected along a-line of fold to one of the walls, and are connected bypast, display containers of a-basket shape have l sometimes been sentwith the articles of manufacture for display purposes. The goods havebeen unpacked from the shipping container and placed in the displaybasket. In some instances the articles of manufacture have beenscattered promiscuousiy within the basket, as such a display has provento be extremely eifective.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a shippingcontainer which can also form a display basket. With such a'device,goods may be packed and shipped within the container; and when they havereached their destination the same container will unfold to provide abasket. vAs the container unfolds into basket formation, the volume ofthe container increases, providing additional space within the same. Asa result, the goods which were tightly packed in the shipping containermay be scattered into a jumbled mass within the display containerwithout providing an overflow of the goods which must be stored.

It is a feature of my invention that my container, when fully folded,provides a substantially rectangular box which lends itself most readilyto the packing of articles of merchandise. When in display position,however, the side and' end walls of the previously rectangular boxassume a sloping position with respect to the base, permitting thecontents of the container to be readily viewed, and providing readyaccess to the'displayed goods.

A feature of my invention resides in the provision of substantiallytriangular gussets which foldably connect the side and end walls of thecontainer. When the container is used as a shipping case, these gussetsfold fiat against the side or end walls of "the container. In thedisplay .positions of the container, the gussets unfold, and serve toconnect the adjacent edges of the side and end walls, permitting thesewalls to slope upwardly and outwardly from the base or bottom of thecontainer.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision ofsubstantially triangular gussets which are securely anchored both to theside and end walls of the container. These gusfold lines to connectingtabs secured to the other of the walls. Through this means the walls aresecurely held in sloping relation to the base, and

the angle of slope of the walls is definitely limited.

An additional feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof display panels along the forward edge of the container, and along therear edge of the same. In display position. the front display panel isfolded to depend downwardly from the forward edge of the frontcontainerwall, thusconcealing the gusset anchoring arrangement. The rearpanel is folded into vertical position to advertise the displayed goods.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of abendable element embodied within the material forming the displaycontainer. This bendable element is malleable to assume a desired shape,but does not bend as easily as the material in which it is-embodied. Thebendable element, such as a metal .wire, extends at substantially rightangles to the lines of fold of the display panels. Through this means,the display panels are held in definite set relationship with respect tothe remainder of the container, until manually folded into anotherposition. The normal tendencyfor the display panels to fold by gravityout of display position is in this manner obviated.

Still another feature of the present invention resides in thecombination between a container having fofdable gussets and a containerclosure which acts to hold these gussets folded during transportation.The closure, in simplest form, comprises merely a top having dependingrectangularly arranged side walls thereupon. In other words, the closureis merely an-open bottomed box-shaped element'designed to telescope overthe container side walls and over the folded gussets. By preventing thegussets from unfolding away from the side walls, the container is heldfrom unfolding into display position.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my shipping container packed and readyfor shippingi Figure 2 is a perspective view of a type of closure whichmay be used for closing the 'top of the shipping container and forholding the corner gussets from unfolding.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my shipping and display container withthe cover or closure therefor removed, portions of the container havingbeen broken away to disclose the construction thereof.

Figure 4 is an end view of the container after the gussets'have beenopen.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the display container in open orbasket formation.

Figure 6 illustrates the died-out formation of the container before thesame is folded.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view through a portion of the containershowing the bendable element embedded therein.

The shipping and display container A is provided with a top closure Bwhich is employed during the shipping process, and which is removed whenit is desired to unfold the container A into display position. The coveror closure 3 may be of any desired type, but for the purpose ofillustration, is shown comprising a top l0, sidewalls and I2 and endwalls l3 and I4. Flaps i 5 and I6 are provided on the side flaps II andI2 respectively. These flaps i5 and I6 overlap the end flaps l3 and I4and are secured thereto. The end flaps I5 are connected to the side wallll along fold lines I1, while the flaps l6 are connected to the sidewall l2 along fold lines IS. The end flaps l5 and I6 are secured to theend walls [3 and I4 by any suitable means, such as the staples 20.

The display container A is formed of a single sheet of material cut andfolded as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The container Aincludes a base or bottom 2|, which is connected along a fold line 22 toa rear end wall 23. The rear end wall 23 is connected along a fold line24 to a rear display panel 25.

The bottom wall 2| is also connected along a fold line 26 to a front endwall 21 which in turn is connected by a fold line 29 to a front displaypanel 30. The position of these various walls and parts when thecontainer is in folded and unfolded or basket formation will be latermor clearly described.

The base or bottom wall 2| is connected along parallel fold lines 3| toside walls 32. The side walls 32 are connected along parallel fold lines33 to substantially triangular gusset portions 34. These gusset portions34 are connected by fold lines 35 to substantially triangular connectingflaps 36. The connecting flaps 36 are in turn connected along fold lines31 to anchoring tabs 36, which in the formation of the container aresecured to the rear end wall 23 and the front end wall 21, as bestillustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. Staples 46 or othersuitable means may be employed for the attachment of the anchoring tabs39.

The outer edges of the gussets 34 and the connecting flaps 36 arepreferably notched at 4|. These notches 4! are provided at the junctureor fold lines 35 between the gussets 34 and the flaps 38, to permit freefolding of these elements, and to permit proper folding of the displaypanels 25 and 30. Notchcs 42 are also provided at the extreme inner orlower end of the connecting flaps 36 to facilitate the folding of therelatively heavy material from which the container is formed.

The anchoring flaps 39 are not the full length of the connectingportions 36. In the first place, these anchoring tabs 39 do not need tobe exthe shorter length of the anchoring tabs decreases the length ofthe lines of told 31, thereby making the entire corner gussetarrangement fold more readily than would otherwise be the case.

In assembling the died-out blank illustrated in Figure 6 of thedrawings, it is only necessary to secure the staples 40 in place,extending through the anchoring tabs 39 and the container end walls 23and 21. The anchoring tabs are attached in such a position that, inunfolded display position illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, each fold line35 along one side of a triangular gusset 34 coincides with an edge of anend wall 21 or 23. In unfolded position of the container, the connectingportions 36 overlie the surface of the end wall of the container, andtake up the space between the anchoring tabs 39 and the adjacent edgesof the container end walls.

The anchoring tabs are so positioned, and the connecting flaps 36 are soshaped, that when the gusset portions are folded, as in Figure 3 of thedrawings, the fold lines 33 between the gusset portions 34 and the sidewalls 32 are drawn into contact or proximity with the opposed edges ofthe end walls 23 or 21. With the gussets folded as in Figure 3, thecontainer cannot expand into I display position. During the shipping ortransportation of the container, the gussets are held in the positionillustrated in Figure 3 by means of the side and end walls ll, l2, l3,and i4 of the closure B. The container is shown in readiness forshipping in Figure 1 of the drawirgs.

The relatively short display panel 30 is folded fiat over the packedarticles of manufacture during transportation, and the panel 25 isfolded down over the packed goods as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.In display position, the panel 30 preferably depends from the forwardedge of the front end wall 21, and the rear panel 25 projects upwardlyfrom the rear edge 24 of the rear end wall 23.

In order to hold the display panels 25 and 30 in set position, I providea bendable or malleable element embedded in the material forming thecontainer. In preferred form, the container A is formed of materialcommonly known as cortremely long to serve the purpose of anchoring theconnecting portions 36. In the second place,

rugated paper." As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, thispaper comprises a pair of parallel sheets 43 and 44 connected by acorrugated web 45. A wire formed of bendable or malleable metal or thelike, indicated by the numeral 46, extend between the inner and outercover sheets 43 and 44. While this wire 46 is readily bendable, it willnot permit the display panels 25 and 30 to fold by their own weight.Thus when set in the vertical position illustrated in Figure 5 of thedrawings, they will maintain this position unless manually folded intoanother position.

In the present application, the container A is shown filled witharticles of manufacture in the form of rectangular boxes 0.transportation, these boxes C are packed in close formation as bestillustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. In the display position of thecontainer, the boxes C are scattered in a jumbled mass as bestillustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my container for shipping anddisplaying articles of merchandise; and while I have endeavored to setforth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood thatIn shipping or,

this is only illustrative of a mean of carrying out my invention andthat obvious changes may be made within the scope of the followingclaims without. departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A packing and display container comprising a body having a base,walls foldably secured thereto to extend at right angles thereto or tofold outwardly to expand the body, and yielding means to permit alimited outward movement of the walls, each said yielding meansconnecting adjacent edges of two of the walls; each said yielding meansincluding a gusset connected along one edge to one of said two walls ata point spaced from the edge thereof along a fold line, anchoring tabmeans permanently secured in fixed relation to the other of said twoconnected walls, and means foldably connected to the opposite edge ofsaid gusset and foldably connected to said tab means connecting saidanchoring tab means to said gusset. V

2. A packing and display container comprising a body having a base,walls foldably secured thereto to fold outwardly to expand the body, andyielding means to permit a limited outward movement of the walls, eachsaid yielding means connecting adjacent edges of two of the walls; eachsaid yielding means including a gusset connected along one side to oneof saidtwo walls along a fold line, anchoring tab means secured in fixedrelation to the other of said two connected walls, and a connecting tabfoldably connected to said tab means and to the opposite side of saidgusset connecting said anchoring tab means to said gusset, saidconnecting tab overlying a surface of said other wall when said body isexpanded.

3. A packing and display container comprising a body having arectangular base, walls foldably secured to each edge of said basearranged to fold outwardly to expandthe body, and yielding means topermit a limited outward movement of the walls, each said yielding meansconnecting adjacent edges of two of the walls; each said yielding meansincluding a gusset connected to one of said two walls along a fold line,anchorin tab means secured in fixed relation to the other of said twoconnected walls at a point spaced from the edge thereof, and meansfoldably connected along opposite sides to said tab and to said gussetconnecting aid anchoring tab means to said gusset and designed to fillthe space between said tab and the edge of said other wall when saidbody is expanded.

4. A packing and display container comprising a body having a base,walls foldably secured thereto to fold outwardly to expand the body, andyielding means to permit a limited outward movement of the walls, eachsaid yielding means connecting adjacent edges of two of the walls; eachsaid yielding means including a gusset connected along one edge to oneof said two walls along a fold line, and tab means secured in fixedrelation to the other of said two connected walls, and a connecting tabfoldably connected along one side to said tab means and along itsopposite side to the opposite edge of said gusset, connecting saidanchoring tab means to said gusset, said connect- 5. A packing anddisplay container comprising a body having a base, wall foldably securedthereto to fold outwardly to expand the body, and yielding means topermit a limited outward movement of the walls, each said yielding meansconnecting adjacent edges of two of the walls; each said yielding meansincluding a gusset connected along one edge to one of said two wallsalong fold line, an anchoring tab secured in fixed relation to the otherof said two connected walls at a point spaced from the edge thereof, anda connecting tab foldably connecting said anchoring tab means to theother edge of said gusset, said connecting tab means arranged to foldover said anchorin tab in folded position of said yielding means and toextend between said anchoring tab and the.

edge of said other connected wall in unfolded position of said yieldingmeans.

6. A packing and display container comprising a body having asubstantially rectangular base, walls foldably secured along each edgeof said base to fold outwardly to expand the body, and yielding means topermit a limited outward movement of the walls, each said yielding meansconnecting adjacent edges of two of the walls; each said yieldingmeansincluding a gusset connected at one side to one of said two walls alonga fold line, an anchoring tab secured in fixed relation to the outersurface of the other of said two connected walls, said anchoring tabbeing spaced from the edge of said other wall, and connecting meansdefined by two angularly related fold lines foldably connecting saidanchoring tab to the opposite side of said gusset, said connecting meansdesigned to fold over said anchoring tab in folded position of saidyielding means and to extend between said anchoring tab and the edge ofsaid other wall inunfolded position of said anchoring tab.

'Z. A packing and display container comprising a body having a base, andwalls foldably secured thereto to fold outwardly to expand the body,yielding means connecting said walls together, permitting a limitedoutward movement of said walls, said yielding means comprising a gussetfoldably secured to the connected walls, and display panels foldablysecured to the free edges of two opposed'walls of said body and designedto cover said body in contracted position of said walls, one of saidpanels projectin upwardly from its respective wall and the other panelextending downwardly from the wall to which it is attached.

8. A packing and display container comprising a body having a base, andwalls foldably secured thereto to fold outwardly to expand the body,gusset means connecting said walls to permit a limited outward movementof the walls, each said gusset means being foldably connected to twoadjacent walls of said body, display panels connected along lines offold to the free edges of two opposed walls, and bendable reinforcingmeans embedded in the body of said display panels, the walls to whichthey are connected and said base, said bendable reinforcing meansextending through the lines of fold connecting said display panels totheir respective body walls mg tab overlying a surface of said otherwall when said body is expanded.

and through the fold lines connecting said re-

